National Park
Stenshuvud National Park
Small National Park on the east coast near Kivik: A 97-meter-high hill with deciduous forest descends to a bright sandy beach. From the summit, the view reaches over Hanö Bay.
Sweden
Skåne
Region
Skåne is Sweden's southernmost province and lies directly opposite Copenhagen. Vast fields, beech forests, and some 500 kilometers of coastline with sandy beaches and sea cliffs characterize the landscape.
by Felix Gillen
Skåne is Sweden's southernmost province and lies directly opposite Copenhagen. Vast fields, beech forests, and some 500 kilometers of coastline with sandy beaches and sea cliffs characterize the landscape. With Malmö, the university city of Lund, and Helsingborg, three vibrant cities lie close to one another, while Österlen in the southeast is known for apple orchards, handicrafts, and fishing villages.
Skåne is flat to gently rolling and Sweden's most agriculturally intensive region. Its west coast along the Öresund is densely populated and connected to Denmark via the Öresund Bridge, while the east, with Österlen and the south coast around Ystad, is more rural. In the northwest, the Kullaberg peninsula and the Söderåsen ridge rise from the plain. Distances are short: From Malmö, you can reach almost anywhere in the province in under two hours. Many visitors combine a city break in Malmö or Lund with a few days on the coast.
More places in Skåne
Ystad is a small port town on the south coast of Skåne with a well-preserved historic town centre. Around 300 half-timbered houses, St. Mary's Church, and the Franciscan Monastery, founded in 1267, define the old town. Ystad is also known as the setting for Henning Mankell's Wallander crime novels and as a ferry port to Bornholm.
Sights in Skåne
Discover the most important sights and attractions
Park
Kullaberg
Rocky peninsula in the northwest of Skåne. Hiking trails lead over the cliffs to Kullens fyr lighthouse at the western tip, Sweden's most powerful lighthouse, and down to small coves at the foot of the rocks. From Mölle harbour, the coast can also be explored by boat.
Museum
Söderåsen National Park
Beech forests, deeply cut gorges, and viewpoints like Kopparhatten characterize the national park in central Skåne. The Naturum visitor center in Skäralid is the starting point for marked hiking trails.
Museum
Glimmingehus
Fortified stone house in Österlen, built from 1499 and completed in 1506. It is considered Scandinavia's best-preserved medieval castle. Inside, exhibitions showcase life around 1500; it is open seasonally from February to early November, outside of summer usually only on weekends and during holidays.
Food and Drink
Skåne is considered Sweden's larder. Many specialties are seasonal and tied to festivals.
Spättekaka
A tall, airy Baumkuchen of eggs, sugar, and potato flour, piped over an open fire onto a rotating spit. A known specialty from the Ystad area.
Äggakaka
Thick pancake from the oven or pan, served with fried bacon and lingonberries. A simple farmer's dish that often appears on the menu at rural guesthouses.
Goose Dinner
The goose dinner on St. Martin's Eve (November 10th) with Schwarzsauersuppe as a starter is a typical Scanian tradition. Many inns offer it in November.
Apples from Österlen
Kivik's apple cultivation dates back to the late 19th century. Farm shops sell apple juice, cider, and apples from the orchard in autumn.
Best Time to Visit
When is the best time for your trip?
12–18°C·42–79 mm(moderate rain)
May to September is the best time for Skåne. In May and June, the days are very long, the rapeseed fields bloom, and it rains comparatively little. July and August are the warmest and are suitable for beach holidays along the coast, though August is also the wettest month. In September, it is still mild and significantly quieter.
Reference locations are Lund and Malmö. Temperature and precipitation: SMHI Station Lund, averages 1991 to 2020 (Malmö is almost identical). Sunshine hours per day: SMHI Station Lund Sol, 1991 to 2020. Skåne has Sweden's mildest climate; winters are mostly wet and windy rather than snowy.
Seasons
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
High season with beach weather
Off-season, mild and quiet
Off-season, cool, windy and dark
Best Time to Visit
▶Show detailed monthly data
| Month | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Sun (h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0.9 | 55 | 1.5 |
| February | 1.0 | 43 | 2.2 |
| March | 3.2 | 40 | 4.4 |
| April | 7.8 | 34 | 6.8 |
| May | 12.4 | 42 | 8.1 |
| June | 15.8 | 63 | 8.1 |
| July | 18.3 | 62 | 8.0 |
| August | 17.9 | 79 | 7.1 |
| September | 14.0 | 61 | 5.3 |
| October | 9.3 | 68 | 3.2 |
| November | 5.2 | 61 | 1.6 |
| December | 2.3 | 68 | 1.0 |
Culture & History
Danish HeritageUntil the Peace of Roskilde in 1658, Skåne belonged to Denmark. This is still visible today: in half-timbered farms, brick churches, and numerous castles, and audible in skånska, a dialect with a rolled R that many Swedes from other parts of the country struggle to understand. The province has its own flag, a yellow cross on a red background.Past and PresentStone settings like Ales Stenar near Kåseberga and the Bronze Age cairn Kiviksgraven (formerly Kungagraven) near Kivik bear witness to a long settlement. Today, Skåne is strongly international in character due to Lund University and its proximity to Copenhagen, while on Österlen, artists open their studios, especially during Konstrundan, which has been starting on Good Friday and running over Easter since 1968.
Traveling in Skåne
Skåne has a dense rail network. The purple Pågatåg connect smaller towns, while the Öresundståg run between larger cities and on to Copenhagen. Tickets are available in the Skånetrafiken app, which also covers regional buses.From Malmö to Lund: approximately 10 to 15 minutes by trainFrom Malmö to Copenhagen Airport: around 20 minutes via the Öresund BridgeFor Österlen, Kullaberg, and Söderåsen, a car or bike is more practical, as buses are infrequent there.The national cycle path Sydkustleden runs for approximately 260 kilometers along the coast from Simrishamn to Helsingborg.
